Peered proctoring

Abstract

Systems and methods described herein utilize a distributed server network to allow for the real-time distribution of copies of a data stream uploaded from a computing device. The uploaded data stream corresponds to an environment surrounding a user (exam taker) of the computing device during execution of a testing routine for an examination. Providing copies of the data stream in real-time allows proctors as well as other test assessment authorities to ‘peek in’ on the exam taker's environment surrounding the exam. As a result, the environment surrounding the exam taker can be monitored in real-time to determine whether any visual or audio activity in the environment constitutes activity not in accordance with the exam protocol. Following an affirmative determination that the exam taker violated an exam taking protocol, the proctor or other test assessment authority can then make a final or early decision regarding disciplinary action.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for managing distribution of a data stream from a distributed computing device network, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for a data stream of an examination environment surrounding a user of a first remote computing device during execution of a testing routine, the request received over the distributed computing device network and during execution of the testing routine; 
 identifying a computing device of the distributed computing device network to process the request based on at least one performance metric corresponding to a network path from the computing device to a second remote computing device; and 
 transmitting the data stream from the identified computing device to the second remote computing device in response to the request. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request to transmit the data stream to a third remote computing device included in the distributed computing device network, the second request received during execution of the testing routine; and 
 transmitting the data stream from the second remote computing device to the third remote computing device during execution of the testing routine in response to the second request. 
 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one performance metric is at least one of a bandwidth metric, packet loss metric, and delay metric and wherein the at least one performance metric is determined based in part on a geographic location of the computing device and the second remote computing device. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one performance metric is at least one of a bandwidth metric, a packet loss metric, and delay metric and wherein the at least one performance metric is determined by analyzing data collected within the distributed computing device network that corresponds to the at least one performance metric. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the data stream is a real-time video data stream of the examination environment surrounding the user of the first remote computing device during the testing routine. 
     
     
       6. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication from the second remote computing device that aberrant behavior in the examination environment has been detected through analysis of the data stream. 
     
     
       7. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the data stream into the distributed computing device network. 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program embodied thereon, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for managing distribution of a data stream from a distributed computing device network, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for a data stream of an examination environment surrounding a user of a first remote computing device during execution of a testing routine, the request received over the distributed computing device network and during execution of the testing routine; 
 identifying a computing device of the distributed computing device network to process the request based on at least one performance metric corresponding to a network path from the computing device to a second remote computing device; and 
 transmitting the data stream from the identified computing device to the second remote computing device in response to the request. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request to transmit the data stream to a third remote computing device included in the distributed computing device network, the second request received during execution of the testing routine; and 
 transmitting the data stream from the second remote computing device to the third remote computing device during execution of the testing routine in response to the second request. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one performance metric is at least one of a bandwidth metric, packet loss metric, and delay metric and wherein the at least one performance metric is determined based in part on a geographic location of the computing device and the second remote computing device. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one performance metric is at least one of a bandwidth metric, a packet loss metric, and delay metric and wherein the at least one performance metric is determined by analyzing data collected within the distributed computing device network that corresponds to the at least one performance metric. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the data stream is a real-time video data stream of the examination environment surrounding the user of the first remote computing device during the testing routine. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving an indication from the second remote computing device that aberrant behavior in the examination environment has been detected through analysis of the data stream. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving the data stream into the distributed computing device network.